💰The Deal Guy Newsletter - Issue #79

🧾 INSIDE THIS WEEK’S NEWSLETTER:

**These deals could end or sell out at ANY time. If you buy something through any of the links featured in this newsletter I may get a small share of the sale.

🎟️ $30 Concert Tickets from Live Nation: Live Nation’s “Summer of Live” promo is back with $30 all-in tickets to thousands of shows across the U.S. and Canada.

The public sale runs April 29 through May 5, with early access available before that. I took advantage of this last year and the hottest shows go quickly.

✈️ $199 Frontier “All You Can Fly” Pass: Frontier’s GoWild Summer Pass is currently on sale right now for $199. It allows unlimited flights from May 2026 through April 2027.

This is an awesome promotion but it requires a flexible mindset as domestic bookings are confirmed only one day in advance and there are some blackout dates.

💊 Walgreens BOGO 50% OFF Sale is Live: Walgreens is running a buy one get one 50% off promotion across health, wellness, and personal care categories.

You’ll get the most value by stacking this with Walgreens Cash rewards and digital coupons.

💳 Check Your Inbox for FREE Money From Best Buy: I just received a $5 one but o’thers have reported certificates of up to $10.

These appear via email or in your account and typically expire quickly, with current offers ending in early MaY.

🏋️ Planet Fitness Free Summer Pass for Teens: Planet Fitness confirmed its free High School Summer Pass is back open for registration May 18th.

Teens ages 14 through 19 can work out from June 1 through August 31 at participating locations across the U.S. and Canada with registration.

Here are some recent subscriber submitted money-saving tips:

Jim from MN writes: “To stretch a dollar during these times, I buy a Costco rotisserie chicken. After finishing it, I toss it in my Instapot (slow cooker will also do) along with chicken stock to get 2 - 3 more meals out of an already inexpensive bird.”

In response to the Home Depot Spring Black Friday sale I recently flagged:

Diane writes: “Thank you! I was not aware of Home Depot's sale. I got 4 cubic yards of mulch for the same price as my local landscape company. The difference is having it in bags on a pallet takes up far less room in the driveway, looks neater and is easier for me to manage with my arthritis. Plus I was able to order 50 bricks at half price with free delivery. I want 100 but then they charge $79 delivery. So I'll wait until this order comes today and place a second order.”

Kim from IL writes: "I use a couple of major credit cards for almost all my purchases (& pay them off each month). Each card’s app has “cash back offers” that allow you to select & earn a little extra on groceries, travel, entertainment & more. Offers may be online, in store or both so be sure to read the terms & conditions. I’ve earned over $100 over time. ""

Reply to this email and share it with me! If I feature your tip, I’ll give you a shoutout in next week’s newsletter!

(Include your first name + the state you live in so I can add it to the shoutout)

Your electric bill is about to go up and some of these devices might be a big reason why:

⚡️ Window AC Units Left Plugged In: Even when off, standby draw plus “ready mode” can add unnecessary cost during peak months. Unplug or use a timer when not actively cooling and you can save a couple hundred dollars between now and September.

⚡️ Outdoor Lighting & Landscape Lights: Longer evenings mean these stay on for hours, often costing $20–$60 per season depending on setup. Use timers, motion sensors, or switch to solar where possible.

⚡️ Pool Pumps & Heaters: These are some of the biggest summer energy drains, with pumps alone costing $30–$100+ per month if run too long. Cut run time to 6–8 hours daily and use a timer to avoid overuse.

⚡️ Mini Fridges (Basement/Bar/Garage): These get opened more in summer and struggle in warm spaces, costing $50–$150 per year. Keep them full, lower the temp slightly, or unplug if rarely used.

⚡️ Bathroom & Kitchen Exhaust Fans Left Running: Easy to forget in humid weather, but they can run all day and cost $10–$30 per month. Put them on a timer switch so they shut off automatically.

⚡️ Dehumidifiers: In damp summer basements, these can cost $20–$50 per month to run continuously. Use a humidity sensor setting instead of running it nonstop.

⚡️ Electric Grills & Smokers Left Plugged In: Even when not in use, some models draw standby power and spike usage during summer weekends. Unplug between uses or connect to a smart plug.

⚡️ Electric Water Heaters Working Overtime: More showers, laundry, and guests can push costs up $10–$30 monthly. Lower the temp slightly (especially if the water is coming in to your house warmer this time of year).

⚡️ Ice Makers (Standalone or Built-In): Higher demand in summer means more cycles and higher energy use, adding $5–$15 per month. Turn off when not needed or during travel.

Some birthday freebies can be junk but these are the ones I'd actually go out of my way to claim on my birthday in 2026.

🎂 Starbucks: Free drink or food item through Starbucks Rewards. You must join at least 7 days before your birthday and make at least one prior purchase.

🎂 Dunkin’: Free drink reward through Dunkin’ Rewards. Must be a member in advance.

🎂 Panera Bread: Free pastry or bakery item through MyPanera. Typically added automatically during your birthday window.

🎂 Krispy Kreme: Free doughnuts for rewards members during your birthday period. No purchase required for the base offer.

🎂 Nothing Bundt Cakes: Free bundtlet through their rewards program. One of the more reliable higher-value freebies.

🎂 Crumbl Cookies: Free cookie for rewards members. Account must be set up before your birthday.

🎂 Chick-fil-A: Free item through the app based on your rewards tier. Most accounts receive a dessert or sandwich.

🎂 IHOP: Free pancakes through their rewards program. Consistent and widely available.

🎂 Denny’s: Free Grand Slam breakfast on your birthday at many locations with valid ID.

🎂 Red Robin: Free burger during your birthday month with Royalty membership. One of the best overall values.

🎂 Buffalo Wild Wings: Free wings for rewards members. Some locations may require a small purchase.

🎂 Sephora: Free birthday gift set through Beauty Insider. No purchase required.

🎂 Ulta: Free birthday gift plus bonus points during your birthday month.

To get your question answered, simply respond to this email with any money-saving related question and feel free to include your first name so I can address you properly.

💡 Bart Asks: “Bart Asks: “HELP! Bart here and I'm pulling out what little hair I have left. I am looking for a robot vacuum, no mop feature, good for pet hair and under $500. That search gives results in the thousands. Is there anyway to sort them out. 4+ stars results only slightly fewer?”

Hi Bart! You can filter search results by star ratings on both Best Buy and Amazon although I’d be happy to help you narrow down the list. I’d skip combo mop models and focus on strong suction and anti-hair wrap brushes. My favorites are the Shark Matrix Self-Empty and Roborock Q7M5+ All handle pet hair well and the self-empty base makes a big difference day to day. Both models are currently on sale!

💡 Patsy Asks: “My husband has finally admitted it may be time for him to get a cell phone. He has no desire for a very 'smart' phone like my iPhone. I have looked at Consumer Cellular, which he is familiar with because that was his mom's phone company and he knows they are credible. They have some low GB smart phones with screens, which seem to fit what he wants. Do you have any other options I can show him? Verizon (my company) seems to only have phones too expensive and too complicated for his tastes. He's 75.”

Hello Patsy and he’s lucky to have you in his life assisting! You’re on the right track with Consumer Cellular. They run on the AT&T and T-Mobile networks, so coverage is strong in most areas without long-term contracts. For alternatives, I’d look at an UNLOCKED Moto G series phone often on sale at Amazon or the Jitterbug Smart4 that you can sign-up for with a phone plan from Lively. Both give a straightforward smartphone experience without the cost or complexity you’re seeing from Verizon devices.

💡Marcia asks: “Watch your YouTube spots and subscribe to your newsletter. Love both! Question (2 actually): when is the best time to buy a used car and how far back should I go if I want to keep the car for a long time? Thanks Matt.”

I adore car questions and haven’t received one in a long time! Late December and month’s end are your best buying windows when dealers are pushing to hit quotas. For long term ownership, I’d target a 2 to 4 year old vehicle with under 60,000 miles since most depreciation has already hit. Toyota and Honda consistently rank highly for reliability according to Consumer Reports, and on the American side, Buick and Chevrolet have also earned strong reliability marks in recent reports. I’d avoid going older than about 8 years if you want to minimize repair costs.

Every week in this section of the newsletter, I share some of the most interesting and helpful money-related articles I’ve read over the past week. I hope you find these as valuable as I did!

💵 “What is ‘financial faking’ and how to avoid it while dating” - READ HERE.

💵 “Say goodbye to spam calls with this iPhone trick” - READ HERE.

💵 “15 tourist traps you must avoid” - READ HERE.

I’m so excited to be starting another month with you! May will bring crazy graduation savings, huge discounts for mom and a new wave of desperation deals from the travel industry. I look forward to it all together.

Happy Savings!👋

The Deal Guy (Matt Granite)